One just gets the feeling that not only does Kentucky coach John Calipari know how good this year’s team could be, but he also senses that he could see a mass exodus to the NBA based on the relentless recruiting push he’s on now.
He just added wings Dontaie Allen and Kahlil Whitney to his 2019 recruiting class that already included guard Tyrese Maxey. Obviously, Calipari remains involved with some of the nation’s other top players, but he’s also already making a push for even more targets.
One big one is 6-9 Oscar Tshiebwe, a native of the Congo now playing for Kennedy Catholic (Pa.). He’s still not listed as having an official scholarship offer, but it sure seems like Kentucky is paying a lot of attention to him after what he did against James Wiseman — UK’s top recruiting target in 2019 for quite some time — in a game at the Adidas Summer Championship in Los Angeles last month.
“He completely destroyed Wiseman and I think that really caught the attention of the Kentucky coaches,” Rivals.com recruiting writer Krysten Peek said. “(Assistant) Joel Justus was watching and Oscar is very explosive now. He had a bunch of bad weight on him before but he has lost that baby fat.
“He’s a crazy rim protector. He can seal his man in the high-low (offense). He was making James Wiseman look like he was playing JV (junior varsity) basketball. Now Kentucky is really working hard to develop a relationship with him. He’s a great second option to have for Wiseman and (Vernon) Carey.”
Tshiebwe had 24 points and 13 rebounds in a dominant showing against Wiseman, the No. 1 player in the 2019 recruiting class. Calipari had watched him play in December and a few other times. Justus has seen him play more.
He’s barely ranked in the top 20 but figures to move up when that rankings are updated. Peek says he has a 7-4 wingspan and is a dependable rebounder. Late last week, Tshiebwe narrowed his college choices to Kentucky, Baylor, Illinois, and West Virginia. He is scheduled to visit Kentucky at the end of September.
Peek said Wiseman wasn’t “playing like himself” recently as his recruiting decision — which most believe still is a two-way race between Memphis and Kentucky — might be weighing on him.
“I think James just wants to play basketball and the recruiting thing is getting to him,” Peek said. “I am still hearing Memphis but who knows because he doesn’t say much. I still think Kentucky is in it. I saw the UK coaches still watching him, so I think they still believe they are in the thick of it
“He has the wrong people pushing and pulling him at times, but you cannot dismiss his talent. He’s still a No. 1 priority for Kentucky. I still think he could reclassify, but he’ll have to do it soon. If not, I think he’ll end his recruitment before his high school season starts for sure.”
